Sparrow Contacting Patients as Precaution Only

By Tim Gillette&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Thu 5:51 PM, Oct 25, 2012&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Fri 5:03 PM, Oct 26, 2012

LANSING - Sparrow Hospital is sending letters to patients who may have been given a medication that was produced by the New England Compounding Center, the facility that made steroid injections believed responsible for the recent meningitis outbreak in many parts of the country, including Michigan. Sparrow emphasizes this medication is NOT that steroid injection and Sparrow has received none of that product from NECC. Sparrow is one of 3,000 medical facilities across the country to receive a different product from NECC.

Sparrow say the medication they did receive from NECC is called furosemide, a diuretic given intravenously. Sparrow says there are no reports of any illnesses resulting from use of the furosemide, and patients are not believed to be at risk. Sparrow is in the process of identifying patients who may have been given the medication.

"Sparrow has no reason to believe that any of these patients who may have received medication from NECC are at risk for illness," said Brian D. Schroeder, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Sparrow said in a written statement to News 10. "We have chosen to proactively take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety, health, and wellness of our patients. Part of that precaution is keeping our patients informed."

If any Patients receiving letters have experienced any problems with their treatment, Sparrow recommends they contact their physician or contact Sparrow Pharmacy at 517-364-0742.

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